I found this story and found it interesting. I wonder what people here think about Mr. Firby legally carrying a firearm and using it against the suspect.
"A teenager trying to rob a Sarasota man got a surprise when the would-be victim pulled his own handgun from his pocket and fired, police said.
Elliot Firby, 54, told detectives a black full-sized pickup followed him from the area of University Parkway and U.S. 301 to his house in the 3900 block of North Rilma Avenue.
While Firby was unlocking the fence surrounding his house, someone jumped out of the truck armed with a shotgun, police said.
The gunman ordered Firby to the ground, and Firby kneeled and put his hands over his head, detectives said. While the gunman fumbled with the weapon, Firby, who has a valid concealed weapons permit, grabbed his own gun and shot at the attacker twice, detectives said. Firby told officers he thought he had struck the person in the stomach.
The attacker dropped the shotgun and a T-shirt in Firby's yard and jumped into the passenger side of the pickup, detectives said, and the truck fled.
A short time later, a black pickup pulled up to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and dropped off a teenager with a bullet wound in his abdomen, detectives said. The driver then left the hospital, detectives said.
No charges have been filed yet. The suspect, a 16-year-old, will be taken to Sarasota County Jail once he's released from the hospital, police said. A pickup at the suspect's house is being searched for evidence."
How the heck do get a permit to conceal a weapon? And why would the government give on to a civilian? I can understand if police, detectives, and other government agencies were allowed them.
It's the kind of story gun rights advocates love, and I can't say I'm against it either.
Gun control laws only apply to and inhibit law-abiding citizens; criminals are breaking the law anyway & illegally acquire firearms even in countries where it's illegal to carry them. You have to think - if everyone was carrying a piece, it might act as a deterrent.
He did the right thing. Anybody else would've done nothing out of fear, but no, not this guy. If he didn't do what he did, the teenager could've gone out and shot somebody else at some point, or shot Firby himself.
If everyone had a gun, no one would try to rob stores or houses. If someone tried to shoot up a school, office, store, whatever, he wouldn't get far. Sort of like Mutually Assured Destruction... except smaller.
I had a friend in Dallas who did the same thing. He was approached by a dude with a sawed off shotgun, my friend didn't even let him make it into the building. The robber was killed, after receiving multiple hits to the chest. This incident caused my friend to close the store, even though he was using self defense. Things like this don't just hurt the thief who got shot, it hurts the victim as well. And I'm definitely getting a concealed handgun when I'm 21.
